UK-based spaceflight company Orbex unveiled its Prime rocket, which is designed to deliver small satellites into Earth’s orbit. The completed engineering prototype of the Stage 2 rocket (the stage that will transit into orbital flight after launch) is made from a specially-formulated lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum composite and includes...
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Jiangnan Shipyard, owned by China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), has ordered an LPG (liquefied propane gas)-burning MAN B&W 6G60ME-LGIP engine in connection with the building of an 86,000-m3 VLGC (Very Large Gas Carrier) for Tianjin Southwest Maritime (TSM), the Chinese shipping company. Vessel delivery is scheduled for the second half...
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Alternative-fuel technology company ROUSH CleanTech has developed the first available propane autogas engine certified to California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) optional low oxides of nitrogen emissions standard for heavy-duty engines with 0.02 grams per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr). (Earlier post.) The engine is 90% cleaner than the current Environmental Protection Agency’s...
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Blue Bird is providing the cleanest propane engine available for school buses on the market, with this version being 90% cleaner than the current emissions standard and 10 times cleaner than any non-Blue Bird propane school bus option available today. Blue Bird’s Vision Propane buses now offer an optional ultra-low...
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Calor, an SHV Energy company and the UK’s leading supplier of LPG, has become the first energy company to supply BioLPG to homes and businesses across Britain. On 16 March, SHV Energy received the first delivery of BioLPG (biopropane) from the Neste Biofuels production facility in Rotterdam. (Earlier post.) This...
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Neste has started up the world’s first large-scale renewable propane production facility in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The first cargo of renewable propane has been delivered to SHV Energy, which will market and sell the product to its customers across Europe as BioLPG. Neste’s new facility has a production capacity...
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=Alliance AutoGas (AAG) has successfully engineered Propane Port Fuel Direct Injection (P-PFDI) conversion systems for the 2018 Ford F-150 in two engine choices: 3.3 Liter V6 and 5.0 Liter V8. This new technology features autogas as the primary fuel, while strategically utilizing gasoline as a combustion lubricant. At the 2018...
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Canadian team proposes new propane phase-change thermal management system for hybrid electric battery packs Researchers at the Clean Energy Research Laboratory, University of Ontario Institute of Technology are proposing a new propane phase-change thermal management system for hybrid electric vehicles that use propane as the fuel for the engine. (Further...
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CDP Technologies, the OEM sales division of Crazy Diamond Performance Inc., will offer a new aftermarket gaseous fuels-prepped cylinder head package for GM 6.0L engines. The new CDP cylinder head will be available for the popular GM engines that have been, or are slated to be, converted to a gaseous...
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The world’s first ME-GIE ethane-combusting two-stroke engine has been delivered from MAN Diesel & Turbo licensee Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) in Japan. The Mitsui-MAN B&W 7G50ME-C9.5-GIE is the first engine in a series of three. Further research has led to new possibilities for this engine leading to...
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The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $18 million to five projects for research, development, and demonstration of innovative plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) and direct injection propane engine technologies, as well as community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of light, medium and heavy duty vehicles that operate on fuels...
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The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) rolled out its new fleet of 77 buses fueled by propane autogas. The alternatively fueled buses will help the agency reduce its operating costs, and will reduce emissions by 2 million pounds per year. MTS purchased 31 minibuses and 46 paratransit buses fueled...
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Chevrolet and GMC are partnering with Power Solutions International, Inc. (PSI) to introduce heavy-duty pickups and full-size vans powered by 6.0-liter V-8 compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-capable engines starting in the first quarter of 2017. Chevrolet also will offer CNG and LPG versions of its new...
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The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced approximately $22.3 million of funding to support research, development, and demonstration of innovative plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) and direct injection propane engine technologies, as well as community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of light, medium, and heavy duty vehicles that operate on fuels...
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Ford will offer the 2016 F-150 with an available gaseous-fuel prep package that enables 5.0-liter V8-powered models to run on compressed natural gas or propane, making Ford the only manufacturer of a CNG/propane-capable half-ton pickup. The 2016 Ford F-150 with 5.0-liter V8 engine will be available to order this summer...
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Renault’s new, more compact electric motor with integrated Power Electronic Controller. Click to enlarge. Renault has previewed a new electric vehicle motor, designed by its engineers and manufactured at its Cléon plant in France, as well as a new dual-fuel gasoline/LPG combustion engine. Both are slated to enter production in...
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Natural gas engine and vehicle company Westport Innovations Inc. has acquired Netherlands based Prins Autogassystemen Holding B.V. for €12.2 million (US$15.1 million) through a combination of €6.6 million (US$8.2 million) in assumed liabilities and €5.6 million (US$6.9 million) in cash. Founded in 1986, Prins is a leading developer of high...
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Scaled-down model of prismatic pressure vessel. Click to enlarge. Professors Pål G. Bergan and Daejun Chang and of Ocean Systems Engineering at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a box-type, large-size pressure vessel for the storage and transportation of liquids such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG),...
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Scuderi split-cycle engine in power generator/CAES application. Click to enlarge. Scuderi Group, Inc., the developer of the Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine for mobile applications (earlier post) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Asociación de Miembros de la Policia de Puerto Rico for the first Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine to be...
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Picanto Click to enlarge. Responding to growing customer demand in Europe for small cars with low running costs and low emissions, Kia is introducing a bi-fuel gasoline-LPG model to its Picanto small car range. The new variant, introduced at the Frankfurt show, will record fuel economy in LPG mode of...
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New fuel booster valve for ME-LGI engine showing the main constituent parts. Click to enlarge. On 1 July MAN Diesel & Turbo announced the development of a new ME-LGI dual fuel engine. The new engine expands the company’s dual-fuel portfolio, enabling the use of more sustainable fuels such as methanol...
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The California Energy Commission approved funding of more than $20 million to support low carbon transportation projects; about half went to Tesla Motors. These awards, totaling $20,093,718, are made through the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, created by Assembly Bill 118. The investments of public money...
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The Opel Meriva can now be ordered with the 1.4 liter LPG Turbo ecoFLEX dual fuel engine. Click to enlarge. Opel is expanding and enhancing its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) offer. The Astra 5-door hatchback, the Astra Sports Tourer and the Meriva can now be ordered with the new 1.4...
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Researchers from Japan and Mexico have developed a one-step hydrotreatment process over catalysts containing Ni-Mo and solid acids for the conversion of vegetable oils (Jatropha, palm and canola) to renewable diesel and LPG fuels. A paper on their work appears in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels. Jatropha oil produced...
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Ford’s EcoLPi Falcon has gone on sale in Australia and is making its debut at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne. The new EcoLPi in-line six-cylinder engine is an advanced liquid phase injection, dedicated LPG powerplant that produces 27% more power and 10% more torque than previous E-Gas...
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The electric Transit Connect. Click to enlarge. Ford Motor Company is unveiling the all-electric version of the Ford Transit Connect at the Chicago Auto Show; the small electric van will be in fleet operators’ hands later this year, according to the company. The 2011 Transit Connect Electric will use a...
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The 2-cylinder engine is the first of a range that will expand to include 4- and 6-cylinder engines. Click to enlarge. Ricardo and Cooper Corporation of India launched of the first of a completely new range of Cooper engines at the Delhi Auto Expo. The 2-cylinder vertical in-line engine family...
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The Chevrolet Spark. Click to enlarge. GM Europe is launching the Chevrolet Spark (earlier post), providing more detail on the all-new mini car prior to its going on sale in Europe in the first quarter of 2010. The mini-car (A car) segment is the fastest growing area of the new...
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Opel’s LPG range. Click to enlarge. Opel is now offering five dual-fuel LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)-powered Corsa, Meriva, Astra station wagon and Zafira models with a wide performance range, expanding its line of ecoFLEX models with alternative propulsion. The Opel LPG models can run on gasoline or LPG—the switch happens...
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The Sandero 1.4 LPG. Click to enlarge. Dacia, a member of the Renault group, is broadening its offerings of fuel-efficient and low-emissions engines. During 2009, Dacia will introduce the Sandero and Logan 1.4 LPG, Logan MCV 1.6 LPG, and the Sandero 1.6 E85 bioethanol. Sandero and Logan will also be...
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The 7-speed DSG. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen is staging the world premieres of the New Golf Plus and low-emissions Golf BiFuel with autogas (LPG) and gasoline drive at the Bologna (Italy) Motor Show (3-14 December). In an Italian premier, VW is showing the Passat TSI EcoFuel (earlier post). VW also...
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The LPG system on the Alloytec V-6. Click to enlarge. In Australia, GM Holden has reduced the cost of Holden’s dual-fuel LPG system by $1,500: from $3,900 to $2,400 on Commodore Omega, Berlina and 60th Anniversary sedans; and from $4900 to $3400 for VE Omega ute (automatic model only). The...
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UPS is adding 306 alternative fuel vehicles to its fleet by placing an order for 167 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) delivery trucks while taking delivery of 139 new Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG, or propane) delivery trucks in North America. Additionally, the company has launched an initiative to use biodiesel fuel...
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The Board of Airport Commissioners has approved the purchase of 30 alternative-fuel buses and trucks for use at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as part of its ongoing replacement of existing gasoline-powered vehicles when they reach the end of their useful service life in the airport’s fleet. The Board approved...
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To accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels and to offer lower-cost fuel options than afforded by gasoline, Australia is now offering A$1,000 (US$760) toward the purchase cost of a new Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)-powered vehicle, and a grant of A$2,000 (US$1,519) to the cost of converting existing private vehicles to...
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Maruti’s new LPG WagonR Several major automakers, including Maruti Udyog, Tata, Ford India, and Hyundai, are expanding their line-up or introducing their first-time offerings of alternative-fueled cars in the Indian market. Maruti Udyog, Suzuki’s Indian subsidiary, introduced India’s first LPG-powered car—the WagonR Duo—on Wednesday along with a new version of...
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CleanFUEL USA, a US-based provider of alternative fuel and refueling infrastructure and engine systems to fleet management programs, is investing US$5 million $5 million in India to set up 160 outlets in mainly Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Punjab by 2008 to satisfy rising demand for autogas (liquefied...
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In a settlement agreement filed in the Federal District Court in San Francisco, the US Departments of Commerce, Labor, Transportation, and the Veterans Administration admitted to violating the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) in their continued failure to make required purchases of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) and agreed to bring themselves...
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AFV Solutions has received a certificate of conformity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its gasoline/LPG bifuel conversion system for the model year 2003 Ford Motor Co. 4.6 liter engine. The system allows a vehicle to operate on either gasoline or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) with a flip of...
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Optima Bus Corporation delivered 14 propane-fueled American Heritage Streetcars to VIA Metropolitan Transit, located in San Antonio, Texas. VIA was the first transit agency to purchase the turn-of-the-century design streetcars from Optima more than 20 years ago. The transit agency only recently retired those first streetcars, and is replacing them...
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GM Holden Commodore GM Holden (Australia) is launching new dual-fuel versions of its large sedan and wagon, the Commodore, featuring a newly-developed version of its 3.6-liter Alloytec V6 (one of GM’s global engines). The engine is modified to run on gasoline and LPG, using a new injection system, new valves...
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Hybrid Fuel Systems, a provider of CNG and LPG conversion system for heavy- and medium-duty diesel engines, intends to acquire DRV Energy, a small-volume manufacturer of bi-fuel and dedicated natural gas and propane turnkey conversion systems for light-duty vehicles. The result of the acquisition will be a larger company that...
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The Telegraph. The state government of West Bengal in India is ordering all commercial vehicles manufactured before 1990 off the roads of the Calcutta (Kolkata) Metropolitan Area unless they convert to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) by the end of the year. Transport department officials say...
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As noted in a previous post, a series hybrid electric shuttle bus powered by a UQM propulsion system is under test by a Tier One supplier. A Ford LSG 642 (6 cylinder, 4.2-liter) engine fueled by propane drives the generator. Maximum output at 2200 rpm (the UQM operating speed) is...
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D’Ande Lyon, a UK investment and marketing firm, has introduced an LPG bi-fuel conversion kit for the Smart Car. Developed with Prins Autogassystemen BV and Alternatech Fuels Systems (a Prins distributor and installer), the D’Ande Lyon Smart Car LPG conversion is the first and only Powershift-approved conversion for the Smart...
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